JSPS-UNU Fellowship Programme, Japan

Overview

The JSPS-UNU Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme was launched in 2002 and is jointly organised by UNU and Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS).

It is designed to provide promising, highly qualified, young researchers the opportunity to conduct advanced research relevant to the main thematic focus of UNU-IAS (Institute of Advanced Studies), located in Yokohama, or UNU-ISP (Institute for Sustainability and Peace), located in Tokyo, and in co-operation with their host researchers at Japanese universities and research institutions. UNU acts as the nominating authority for the JSPS-UNU Programme, and UNU-IAS administers the programme on behalf of UNU in the nominating process.

This fellowship is aimed at candidates who have completed their PhD in the past six years and also have professional and/or research experience.

Applicants also need to indicate a prospective host researcher at the time of submitting the application. (It is not necessary to obtain confirmation of acceptance from the prospective host researcher at this stage.) UNU will assist in securing acceptance from the host researchers for short-listed candidates. After the host researcher is secured for each short-listed candidate, UNU will make formal nominations to JSPS, which funds this programme. The final award decision will be made by JSPS and Awards Letters will be issued by JSPS to the fellowship awardees. An advisor for each fellowship awardee will be selected for the period of research in Japan from among the UNU (UNU-IAS or UNU-ISP) faculty members.

Fields of ResearchUNU conducts research on all fields of the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences. Yet, research proposals for JSPS-UNU Postdoctoral Fellowships should relate clearly to one of the current research areas of UNU-IAS and UNU-ISP as well as aim to be policy-relevant.

The following Research Programmes and Projects at UNU-IAS in Yokohama are accepting applications for JSPS-UNU Postdoctoral Fellows:

Science and Technology for Sustainable Societies

Sustainable Urban Futures

Biodiplomacy Initiative

Sustainable Development Governance

Traditional Knowledge Initiative

The following Research Programmes at UNU-ISP in Tokyo are accepting applications for JSPS-UNU Postdoctoral Fellows:

International Cooperation and Development

Global Change and Sustainability

Peace and Security

Eligibility

Citizens of a country that has diplomatic relations with Japan. Japanese nationals who do not have citizenship or permanent residency of other countries are not eligible.

Holders of a doctoral degree when the Fellowship goes into effect, which must have been received on or after 2 April 2005, or those scheduled to receive a doctorate degree before the Fellowship goes into effect.

Applicants with at least 10 months research and/or professional experience are especially encouraged to apply.

Those who have previously been awarded a fellowship under the “JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship Program for Foreign Researchers” (excluding Postdoctoral Fellowship Program (Short-term) for North American and European Researchers and Summer Program) are not eligible.

Duration of the FellowshipFellowships are awarded for a period of 24 months.

Note: The terms of the Awards indicated above are subject to change by JSPS. If the Fellow resides in Japan on the date his/her award letter is issued, the above-mentioned air ticket to Japan and settling-in allowance will not be provided.

A research grant, “Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research”, of up to JPY1,500,000 per year (total of JPY3,000,000 for two years. The amount varies depending on the areas/disciplines of research.) is available to cover cooperative research-related expenses. Application for these grants is made by the host researcher through his/her institution.

Eligible Host Institutions in JapanEligible host institutions in Japan are universities, inter-university research institutions, and other research institutions designated by JSPS. Click here for a list of prospective host researchers attached to UNU-IAS and their areas of specialisation.

Nomination of CandidatesUNU will act as a nominating authority of the Programme, and application should be submitted to UNU-IAS.

UNU-IAS nominates candidates to the JSPS based on the following criteria:

the research objectives of the applicant and the quality of the research proposal,

the relevance of the research proposal to the ongoing or planned research activities of the applicant`s indicated Research Programme at UNU-IAS or UNU-ISP,

the applicant`s academic merit and the potential for successful research while in Japan.

UNU will try to inform the successful candidates of the results of the nomination in May.

JSPS takes about 2 months after receiving the nominations to process its award decision.

Starting Date and Deadline for Applications

The JSPS-UNU Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme begins on 1 September and the selected Fellows are required to be in Japan by this date. The deadline for application for the Fellowships is 28 February.

To ApplyInterested and eligible candidates are invited to complete the online-application form at here. If you do not have access to the Internet, please contact us (see the contacts below). The online form and the required documents indicated in the form must be in English. If the supporting document is in another language, please also attach an English translation.

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